Transforming women's sacred stories. Inviting yours.

A living, breathing legacy: YOU!

Genealogies abound in the pages of Scripture. Let’s not mince words: they are boring. Skipped right over them most of the time, the begats and the so and so descended from so and so just don’t interest you. Clearly, they are not relevant to your day-to-day life. Whatever.

And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon’s servant, whose mothers’ name was Zeruah, a widow woman…

And Rehoboam, the son of Solomon reigned in Judah…And his mother’s name was Naamah…

Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. Three years he reigned in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

…and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

But do you know what the above four bullets represent? (Are you even reading this post anymore?)

The fact that these women even exist in our shared memory is a testament to their significance, power, and tenaciousness.

That they are listed is profound; named, nothing short of miracle. That they’ve somehow made it into (and stayed within) a re-written, re-copied, re-interpreted Text throughout the centuries is as breathtaking as creation itself. And even more, credit must be given where credit is due: these women – listed and unlisted, named and unnamed – are the ones who carried and nurtured and labored and birthed and raised and loved the sons who are named!

Women are woven throughout history whether named and spoken of, or not; whether understood, or not; whether honored, or not. They can’t not exist!

Do I want them named, spoken of, understood, and honored? Of course! But am I able to see an entire legacy from which I descend, whose blood runs in my veins, whose sheer determination to survive is surely part of my alchemical makeup? Yes!

And if my legacy, my blood, my alchemical makeup, then yours, as well.

You are the living, breathing, thriving evidence of women’s strength, courage, perseverance, and sheer willpower to survive. Amazing!

I’d understand if you’re still not all that excited about spending time reading Scriptural genealogies. But for your own sake, read between the lines. Embedded within are the voices of thousands of women who whisper to you still, “You are my daughter, my lineage, my kin.” Rise up. Stand tall. Take your place in a stunningly regal line.